Safe IVF Shipping

SHIPPING TO REPROTECH FOR STORAGE

To transfer semen, embryo, or oocyte specimens to ReproTech for long-term cryostorage, patients are required to:

Complete paperwork to open an account at ReproTech and to authorize the transfer

Provide serology test results for HIV 1&2 (AIDS)

The fees for the transfer and storage must be prepaid by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, check, or money order.

Once the above requirements have been completed, ReproTech will contact the patient’s clinic to arrange for the transfer. ReproTech recommends the use of two transport shippers for the transfer if there is more than one straw (or vial) of embryos, semen, or oocytes being transferred. ReproTech documents the successful transfer through the use of a temperature exposure indicator, which monitors the transport shipper’s environment throughout the shipping process. ReproTech cannot verify nor guarantee the viability of the specimens being placed into long-term storage or being transferred to a clinic.

Please note that two independent publications document the safety of transported embryos; 2009 ASRM, 2005 ASRM.

Safe IVF Shipping

How are specimens transported to ReproTech?

All specimens are transported in special “dry shipper” tanks that have an inner absorbent material designed to hold liquid nitrogen and maintain the proper temperature during transport.

And ReproTech completes several extra steps to ensure that your specimens are safely transported:

We ship with United Parcel Service (UPS) Premier Healthcare service that provides priority handling of our shipments, enhanced sensor-based visibility while in transit, live 24/7 location monitoring, proactive delay follow-up, and advanced recovery, if necessary.
Tanks are shipped in “mushroom-style” shipping containers (we call them “mushrooms” because of their appearance) to limit the time they may spend on their sides and eliminate the time they would spend inverted during transit.
Proprietary locking mechanisms installed on outer shipping containers and custom printed Secure Tight seals, with serial numbers, on the outside container and custom serial numbered seals on the shipping tank lid.
Routine specimen pickups are initiated on Mondays by overnight delivery, both outbound and inbound, so shipments complete their round trips to ReproTech by Thursday, avoiding weekends.
We utilize an FDA Approved Cryoguard thermal indicator in every shipment, which indicates whether temperatures of -150^oC or below are maintained during shipments. Other companies that ship similar specimens use temperature data loggers, here’s why we do not
Tanks are weighed out and back in for every shipment to document nitrogen evaporation rates so that we can continually monitor tank efficacy.
Tanks are validated every 6 months, and removed from the fleet should they not maintain nitrogen hold time requirements.
Tanks are maintained with a liquid nitrogen fill while onsite at ReproTech to ensure that they are fully charged and ready for shipment at any time.
Tanks are used for only 5 years and then disposed of, regardless of hold time.

Safe IVF Shipping

SHIPPING TO REPROTECH FOR STORAGE

To transfer semen, embryo, or oocyte specimens to ReproTech for long-term cryostorage, patients are required to:

Safe IVF Shipping

How are specimens transported to ReproTech?

And ReproTech completes several extra steps to ensure that your specimens are safely transported:

International Shipments and Clinic to Clinic Shipments Within the U.S.